Evil Deeds
The Culture of Death - Part 1 of 2 • Sermon • Submitted
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Evil Deeds
Evil Deeds
jn3.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
We exist in a time of true darkness...
Evil exists and even prevails on every hand...
Not only does evil exist around us, there is a natural bent toward evil in the soul of every man / woman / boy and girl...
Our sin nature - though at salvation the bondage of sin is broken - the bent to sin is still very real…
“Though not all sin is evil, all evil is sin”
sin is the transgression of the law - the breaking of the laws of God / man
Evil is sin with the intent to harm another...
This mornings local headlines -
Man shot and killed in Sacramento’s oak park neighborhood
Man killed in south Sacramento apartment complex stabbing
Missing El Dorado woman's remains were found - husband arrested for murder
3 weeks ago Friday - around 4:00 pm
Otoniel Carranza walked into the Marysville Police department and said that he had attacked his mother with a knife...
he was so nonchalant about it, that the police officers thought he was mentally ill, but followed up on the report only to find that this 37 year old man had indeed murdered his mom in her apartment off 11th & Ramirez
Every time we turn around, there is another event that is the result of evil...
In this Culture of death, I want to point out 3 things this morning that I believe will be a help in the understanding of what is going on in the world around us.
Evil Deeds
Evil Deeds
prayer
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
1. Evil Exists
1. Evil Exists
Evil has existed since the fall of man...
But evil is the manifestation of the condition of the heart...
It is a heart issue...
I am not saying that there are not mental illnesses that contribute to bad behavior - but the majority of evil is not the result of a person who has no control over themselves because of mental illness -
Most evil is the result of a heart that has endulged
It is a sin issue...
sin that is unchecked
sin that is unbridled
sin that is unaccountable
Evil exists...
it was evident in the first murder - Cain - murdered his brother Able -
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
gen4.8-10
It continues today - but at higher levels of occurance
EVIL EXISTS
2. Evil is Elevated
2. Evil is Elevated
In a report from LifeWay Research (slide)
81% of Americans are concerned about the moral decline of our nation
19% were not concerned at all...
“Older Americans grew up at a time when ideas about morality were more stable. That’s no longer true for younger Americans” Scott McConnell
“We are shifting very fast from a world where right and wrong didn’t change to a world where right and wrong are relative”
26% of Americans say their faith has the biggest influence on their moral compass - what they determine to be right or wrong -
In the same report - 64% of professing Christians said that their faith was the biggest influence in their life’s moral compass.
I look at that - unbelieving that Christians as a whole do not all look at the Word of God as the final authority for what is right and wrong - that tells me - that only about 6/10 here say that your faith - (based on the bible) should determine our moral compass = view on what is right and wrong
Why has our country changed so much???
The moral views of those over 45 vs those under 35 was totally different....
WHY???
Alexis de Toqueville – (1805-1859)– famous quote – but is argued if it was his or not –
I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers—and it was not there. . . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests—and it was not there. . . . .in her rich mines and her vast world commerce—and it was not there. . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.
It was evident that the morality of our nation contributed to it’s greatness and the immorality will also lead to its demise
John Adams: Slide
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other
Evil Exists
Evil is Elevated -
“America’s culture is desensitized to violence”
Aidan Tejo - In a cnbc article after the Parkland Florida shooting stated - “We as a country have become desensitized to violence”
“Another driving factor to the desensitization to violence can be seen in part to teh violence that is displayed in many hollywood films and video games”
video games - the most successful games of the 21st century -
Grand theft auto
Call of duty
In another report - 2017 -
Best selling Video games -
Shooting
Fighting and Action were the top sellers -
“The foundation of most popular games are often violent in nature, with killing being the main objective”
American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that parents severely restrict kids’ access to violent games.
14.2% 18-25 year olds - play video games7-12 hours a week
10.6% over 20 hours week
Music
Movie industry
2017
1.28 million violent crimes in the US per year
99,856 Rape’s
811,000 Aggravated Assaults
17,000 murders
in 1962 & ‘63 the Supreme Court removed the Bible and Prayer from the public schools -
According to William Jeynes, a professor at California State College in Long Beach and senior fellow at Witherspood Institute in Princeton NJ -
“Since 1963, there have been five negative developments in teh nations public schools
Academic achievement has plummeted - including the SAT’s
Increased out of wedlock births
increase in illegal drug use
Increase in juvenile crime
Deterioration of School behavior
1940-1962 teacher top 5 complaints
talking
chewing gum
making noise
running in the halls
getting out of line
1963 to present
rape
robbery
assault
burglary
arson
Our Morals have declined as a nation - as a society...
And it is alarming that Christians - who say their moral values are from the bible -
are just as engaged in the Movie, gaming and music industry of the world...
Evil is elevated to unprecedented numbers all in the name of entertainment… (profit)
Edmund Burke
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”
john3.19-21
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Evil Exists
Evil is Elevated
but...
3. Evil is Evanescent (short lived)
3. Evil is Evanescent (short lived)
One of these days - The Lord Jesus is going to return...
The saved will be raptured
Dead in Christ will be raised
Tribulation period - judgement of the world...
Battle of Armeggedon
Great white throne judgement
but then...
Millinial Reign of Christ
Lion shall lie down with the lamb
Satan shall be cast into the bottomless pit
A new Heaven
A new Earth -
Eternity with our God -
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
jn 3.16-18
Evil Exists
Evil is Elevated
Evil is Evanescent
But if you are not saved, you will not have the peace that God has prepared for you… it will be eternal judgement - because of your rejecting Him and His ultimate sacrifice to pay for your sin debt...
We have no choice - to live in a culture of death now...
to live in a culture of death now
But we do have a choice whether we will live in a state of eternal death in eternity...
Death wasn’t part of God’s plan - life was...
Man’s sin - man’s evil has caused this culture of death...